C9 Chapter 8; Pain in Love

Hridhan's POV

I never thought love could be such a torment. It's a feeling that creeps into your heart, wrapping its tendrils around every inch of your being, leaving you vulnerable and exposed. And yet, I couldn't help but fall, hopelessly and recklessly, for a love that would never be returned. Unrequited love is a futile pining for a relationship with another person. Even though unrequited love is an incredibly painful experience, still I fell for her way harder than I will ever fall for anyone again.

It all started when I first saw Mia, the sister of my best friend, Reyansh. I spotted her chasing the gorgeous butterflies on a warm summer day when she came to the Sunshine orphanage where I resided. She was the first to approach me and become my friend. Later, I befriended her brother Reyansh, and our friendship has grown stronger over time. We were only kids, running across the fields chasing each other and giggling till our sides hurt.

After our first meeting, both siblings visited me often at the orphanage. The orphanage was owned by their mother, who was also a doctor. They would come with her during her visits, and we would spend hours talking and playing. But as our bond grew stronger they visited me frequently.

My bond with Reyansh grew way deeper than friendship, we were more like brothers to each other, but with Mia, my feelings extended beyond friendship and into the realm of romantic love.

At that moment, something shifted within me, and I knew that this girl would forever hold a special place in my heart. However, little did I know that my feelings for Mia would not be reciprocated.

As we grew older, my love for Mia only intensified. I watched her blossom into a captivating woman, her laughter filling the air like sweet melodies. I longed for her touch, her warmth, her presence. But alas, my love remained unrequited. Mia saw me as nothing more than a friend, a confidant, never realizing the depth of my feelings.

Although my love for Mia remained unrequited, it did not lead to the end of our friendship.

I never expressed my feelings to anyone, including Mia herself. The suspicion of incestuous undertones in our relationship was never acknowledged or addressed.

But Reyansh later caught on to my feelings for Mia and approached me one day, telling me that he knew how I felt.

He confessed that he had always suspected the romantic nature of my feelings towards Mia, but assured me that he understood and harbored no ill will. He approached me about my feelings as my friend not as the brother of my lover. He was there to offer understanding and support, knowing the complexity of emotions that can arise in situations like these. Reyansh's understanding and acceptance of my unrequited love for his sister played a crucial role in allowing our friendship to continue.

I will always be grateful to him for his understanding and support even when I was no one in front of their family standards.

His family accepted me as their family member. Their openness and acceptance allowed me to feel a sense of belonging and comfort in their presence. When I turned 18 Mr. Rout, Reaynsh's father offered me a job in his group, which I gladly accepted and it further strengthen the bond between me and the Rout family.

When Mr. and Mrs. Rout was murdered by another mafia group I was devastated. However, I had to be strong for the sibling left behind. I took on the role of a support system for Reyansh, offering him comfort and reassurance in his time of grief. Although my love for Mia remained unrequited, our friendship continued to thrive. We three became a family, providing each other with love, support, and a sense of belonging.

I was happy until I get to see Mia even if she doesn't reciprocate my feelings. Sometimes, it pained me a lot to see her with other boys, but I didn't have any right to stop he or intervene in her life matter. So, I protected and loved her from a distance. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

It was a fateful night when everything changed. A night that would forever haunt my dreams and etch pain into the deepest corners of my soul.

I remembered that night like it happened yesterday. When I got a call informing me that Mia was murdered and is no more with us. The news of Mia's death shattered my world. The light of my life had been extinguished and I was left in a state of utter despair. I felt a deep sorrow, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The loss of Mia was devastating not only for me but for Reyansh also.

I had to be strong for Reyansh, supporting him in his grief and helping him navigate the pain of losing his sister. The death of Mia snatched the little life and light that remained in our lives. The grief and sorrow that engulfed our hearts were indescribable.

My body expressed grief over the loss of Mia as if mourning the loss of its vitality. The grief I experienced was not just emotional, but deeply embodied. It manifested in physical symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, and a constant heaviness in my chest.

I never recovered from that pain but I learned to hide it because Reyansh felt more devastated after seeing me in pain. To support and help my friend I hide my pain behind my smile.

I know, today something big might happen with him when he met that girl who is accused of the murder of Mia otherwise, he won't open it up to me. The grief I experienced was so overwhelming that it affected me so much that it is drawn into my bones but I soldiered my pain to support Reyansh.

I knew

Secretly, I carried the burden of knowing the truth behind Mia's murder, but I had to keep it hidden because I know Reyansh was a sensitive topic for him and he was already suffering from the loss. I am aware that he wanted to tell me about that night but he couldn't find the courage to start the conversation.

Thus, when I got to know about that night I kept it to myself and didn't tell Reyansh.

So, I remained silent, a silent witness to my heartbreak and the injustice inflicted upon Mia. I stood by Reyansh's side, offering him unwavering support, even when my own heart bled uncontrollably.

Now, as the years have passed, the ache of losing Mia still lingers within me. The pain of unrequited love merged with the pain of her untimely demise, creating a complex tapestry of emotions that I can never fully unravel.

And so, I wander through life, carrying the weight of my unfulfilled love, forever wondering what could have been. But as I look back on the choices I made, I realize that perhaps, amid heartbreak and tragedy, the greatest act of love is sometimes found in silent sacrifices.

When I got to my condo, I couldn't help but felt the sense of emptiness that permeated the space. I moved out of the Rout mansion when my love was causing me unbearable pain and I needed to distance myself from the source of my unrequited love. Even though, after Mia's death I rarely came here. I live with Reyansh after Mia's death to be there for him and provide support to him by being there for him physically and emotionally.

When I need to find solace and peace, I retreat to the comfort of the silence of nature. I cry out my pain and sorrow in this penthouse, releasing the pent-up emotions that I carried for too long that it became unbearable for me.

I took the bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and poured myself a glass, and sat on the floor in front of the portrait of Mia that I have painted myself when I realized my feelings. The portrait captured Mia's radiant smile, her eyes shining with joy and contentment. I stared into the eyes of the colored eyes finding solace in her memories. I reflected on the bittersweet memories that we shared and the love that will remain unfulfilled in this lifetime.

In this life, my love was not reciprocated but I want god give us another chance in the next life to fulfill that love that remains unrequited in this life.

I will wait for you in my next life, I promise...